Channel Islands x Torq X-Lite M23 Surfboard Review

Available here: www.boardshop....
The brand new colab between Torq and Channel Islands in the excellent X-Lite epoxy construction has landed. The first model in this colab is the Torq X Channel Islands M23 surfboard. The M23 has been one of CI's most popular boards so its great to be able to offer it in this excellent construction. The M23 model is truly a performance hybrid model that really appeals to and fits a multitude of surfers in size and ability. Shaped by Britt Merrick, the M23 comes with a tidy pulled in nose outline, which runs with medium to full rails, giving a margin for error when riding the board. The round tail provides control and hold while giving performance with the harder, sharper rail edge in the final third of the board. You'll find the M23 holds foam central to the board, creating a fast paddling board to hoover up waves from 2ft to 6ft with effortless style.
Testament to the shape of the M23 is how versatile this board is. Suited to waves from beach breaks, reefs, points and even wave pools. Anyone on an M23 will rival the wave count of people on out and out mid lengths while having performance to match shortboards. Channel Island's have kept the board simple with fin plug options too, this is a thruster set up and suited to this. Use the AM template fins are the perfect pairing with this board.
The entry rocker is relaxed which helps with general paddling and wave catching. The exit rocker is on the fairly standard, not agressive but there is enough there to get the board turning. The fuller outline provides lots of surface area which equals glide and speed. The rails are fuller but somewhat angular with a lower apex providing lift and control. This style of board is great for sloping waves where there's not a lot of power of shape and it holds its own in better stuff too. It will work for someone coming off a bigger board looking to progress or for a better surfer looking to up their wave count or have a more relaxed surf.
The X-Lite tech is a Torq Epoxy technology developed specifically for performance boards. This is lighter, stronger and more Eco than a traditional PU/Polyester board, now with a 50% thinner Shield Skin for weight reduction. This innovative technology is used exclusively on the X-Lite Channel Islands models; the best selling Pod Mod and all new M23. X-Lite technology now features an additional wood layer sandwich between the two deck biaxial layers. This wood composite is incredibly ding resistant but without adding stiffness usually associated with strength. We're super stoked to be adding this surfboardto our range, it reprsent proper performance and great value. This unique combination of advanced materials and high-tech construction produces a board that performs at the very highest level, offering lightweight shapes with a responsive flex (missing on some cheaper Epoxy boards) but also makes for a really durable and strong surfboard. We love the lightweight, tough construction and most importantly how it surfs. We feared it would be too stiff in this type of epoxy build but thats not the case at all, its got really even flex so it deals with chop etc really well.
#surfboards #surfboardreview

[@joesefr.7756]

Some thoughts from an intermediate surfer who to anyone considering the board: I swapped out my 6'8 seaside and beyond for the M23 in x-lite as a 6'8, primarily because I wanted something make surfing rail to rail/transitioning, doing cutbacks etc as easy as possible - a lot of people told me the Seaside and Beyonds wide tail might hold me back and promote flatter surfing. I love how the tail feels on the M23, the board feels secure on big steep waves with the AM2 fins in, with enough nose rocker for me on steeper take offs. I've thrown in a set of pivots on a really small point break which made it loose and fun, you can throw it around a little. On really small waves the size of the board makes pumping and turning tricky but it is a mid length. The board doesn't have as much glide as other mid lengths I've ridden and you have to compress and extend more, but it is marketed as a performance mid so to be expected and I want to improve my ability to self generate speed. It doesn't feel like I get as much squirt out of a bottom turn compared to the Seaside and Beyond, but it is still very easy to catch waves. I've heard people don't like the x-lite construction as it lacks flex and thus projection. As I have limited experience/skill level it is difficult for me to comment on that but I can't help wondering if PU would have been better - but again I might not be skilled enough for this to be a huge issue. Be interesting to what Boardshop think about PU vs X-lite on this board. Overall would recommend if you want to have a mid length that is less cruisy, more shortboard orientated, and definitely versatile.

[@AdrienDavin]

i own this M23 Torq, in size 6'8, and surfed it on a surftrip for 1 month straight, even got shampooed/barreled on it, best board i ever bought :)

[@urbanrunoff]

i've surfed it now for a couple weeks from crappy to pretty decent waves and i can't believe i'm saying this but it might be my favorite midlength ever. wish it had a quad option but i like it as a twin plus trailer

[@nicontrack2697]

What set are u using?

[@cheekydivik8082]

Wish they did it in 8f got a chauncho 8ft in Xlite it fly's be a good 2 board travel quiver for us Big Kahuna,s 🤙😁👍💥🔥

[@benfairbankangus7881]

@Boardshop thanks as always for the great review! Having trouble choosing between this or the LibTech PickupStick 6.6/7 (which both (-45L) fit between the M23 6.8 and 7, big volume gap). - for smaller days and for my wife (55kg) through the summer. - 41L seems a little small for my wife, but she is already comfortable on 45litres, so I feel the 47L 7.0 might be too big. - Pacific northwest / mainly mushy waves. - How would they compare for performance, durability any other thoughts. thanks in advance!

[@BoardshopUK]

Both are great... but also comes down to riding style and wave range she wants the board to work in. The M23 is a solid board, reliable and loads of fun to surf. The CI M23 is a fantastic board, highly rated by us and almost everyone else out there! The CI M23 is a great performance hybrid board, still great in smaller surf but this is best suited to larger faces. It can be your daily board which will happily surf the average conditions you get but will also be a board you can have loads of fun when the conditions are a little better! The M23 comes with a tidy pulled in nose outline, which runs with medium to full rails, giving the board a margin for error when riding the board whilst the pin tail gives you all the performance you’re after. This board will allow you to draw out those turning lines and connect turns with ease on the open face or even the pocket. A reliable board in more critical conditions but something to still have fun on , when the conditions are more average. However, the Pick up stick , is a more cruisier styled board in its approach to the waves it can be surfed in and in its performance. The Pickup Stick is the board that perfectly fills the gap between a shortboard and a longboard. A narrower round pin tail, smooth flowing shape and rocker lines with plenty of volume make this an easy turning, wave catching, speedster with extra control in all conditions. for weaker smaller/ mushy surf go for the pickup stick will be better suited for those conditions, for more power and size/ performance go for the M23

[@peacepuffz]

Massive pile up on the M23 at the moment

[@BoardshopUK]

🤣🤣🤣

[@chriswholeland]

Would you recommend this, the mid 6, the boss up or a Form Mod Pro (possibly too much volume) as a good long lasting mid length board I can duck dive (70ish kg) suited for UK south coast waves? I surf an Evo 5'7 and would want something with similar speed. I bought a second hand flowstick 7'2 but find it a little sluggish.

[@BoardshopUK]

Depends on how you want the board to surf, all good options but each different. drop us an email at [e-mail] and we can chat boards!

[@kevinwhelehan421]

Would you recommend a 7'6" M23 X Lite or the new 7'0" Revo Max for a 68 year old life long surfer with declining skills...im 6'1 and 195lbs. I surf in mostly 3 foot hell cuz im stuck in Florida. Both boards look sic!

[@BoardshopUK]

The M23 offers a nice forgiving outline and plenty of volume to add to the overall stability of the board, but still surfs well and is capable of being surfed in a huge range of waves. its a board where you can dictate how it can be ridden , ultimately its a shorter styled board scaled up and made proportionate for the size. The RM has a stable outline too, the wide body with the snubbed nose offers a really forgiving board but allows great maneuverability. the twin fin design will make the board more lively and skate like where as the thruster from the M23 will allow that tail end to hold up a bit more and allow you to pivot on the turn both are wicked, comes down to how you like to surf!

[@KnutAsdam-k4g]

Hello. really unsure about this vs a regular CI M23. What is the real difference between the two, apart from the regular one being better looking :-)? : Is one more precice in the shape and rails? Does one float more than the other? Is one stiffer or more flexy? Do they feel different in the water/on the wave? Have anyone at Boardshop surfed them both and can tell the difference? :-)

[@BoardshopUK]

Both are wicked and the Torq version is still the same old M23! the Torq version will be a little more buoyant and responsive due to the EPS construction, however the standard PU version is still a great responsive performance based board.

[@urbanrunoff]

i bought the 7'0" for my wife, surfed it today at a soft 2-3 reef break, it works great! i have other regular resin midlength (crowd killer roundtail, a bonzer mid and local shaped 6.8 ) but this felt solid. itis a little bulky but that's because of the overall volume not the construction, i'd go 6'8" myself. i think the rails are perfectly tuned on this board and it feels better than other mids. ps: i have it set up as a twin plus a trailer, just like my crowd killer

[@nikolassandevski]

I’m 6’3 205lbs. would i still get the paddle advantages w the 6’8 (i would like to still be able to duck dive at powerful breaks) or would it make more sense to get the 7’ and just not get board that deep on duck dives. How much of a difference would that extra 4 inches/few liters make? Would really like to get this board for traveling. Any insight would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[@alanveris1335]

Im 5’5 165 pounds and I duck dive just fine with the 6’8. ALs it’s got 41 liters so paddling shouldn’t be a problem. Also, great glide and stand up and go speed. Great turning capability’s

[@spookyaction4461]

I like the volume 🎉outline and flat rocker of this board in a 6’8”but prefer thrusters. Will this board work as a thruster?

[@daleallison2149]

It is a thruster

[@kevinwhelehan421]

​@@daleallison2149🤣🤣🤣

[@Honohawaii]

what fins do you recommend with this board

[@BoardshopUK]

Totally up to you as the surfer, but we would recommend the Futures AM2 template!

[@jeffg4686]

nice shape overall - I'd like to see the nose completely rounded out (for safety) even if performance might be mildly compromised. I think I found my next board here. Rounded out nose pls.

[@sebastiaosantos7954]

More durable than PU?

[@nicontrack2697]

Yeah torq tech is hard as a rock